Ladies Bounce Gila Monsters: #18 ICC 78, Eastern Arizona 58

Four players reached double figures as the #18 ICC women’s basketball team defeated Eastern Arizona College 78-58 at the Desert Classic in Yuma on Saturday, November 18. The ladies used a balanced attack and dished out 23 assists to score 31 baskets while holding EAC to 28% field goal shooting to move to 5-2 on the season.

ICC opened with a 10-5 lead on combined scores by Kellyn Maynard, Madison Faulkner, and Abby Coates in the opening minutes. The Cougars maintained that five-point advantage, holding a 20-15 edge at the end of the first period of play.

Maynard and Kennedy Banks combined for nine points at the start of the second quarter while Faulkner and Kathy Pinnock Branford each took charges to help ICC stretch their lead to 32-21. Bailey Larsen, Emma Henderson, Krystal Walker, and Sia Williams scored to give the Cougars a 40-23 lead just before the half, but an EAC rally narrowed the deficit to 45-31 at halftime.

The Gila Monsters started to wear down in the second half and it looked like the Cougars would pull away, but costly turnovers (8 in the 3rd quarter) prevented that from happening allowing EAC to hang around. Highlights for the 3rd quarter were a Larsen three-pointer (assist Coates), a trey by Sia Williams (assist Walker) followed by Williams taking a charge on the ensuing possession, but the Cougars were up just 57-45 after three quarters.

ICC began the quarter on a 9-0 run on scores by Larsen, Walker, Coates, and Maynard to finally gain some breathing room at 66-45. The Illinoisians took their largest lead on the afternoon at 73-47, but ill-advised passes (which seemed to be the story for the weekend in the Grand Canyon State) allowed EAC to chip away at the bit for the final margin.

Wrap-up of the trip: The ladies flew into Phoenix and enjoyed a tour of Talking Stick Resort Arena (home of the Phoenix Suns) and also held a workout on the Suns/Mercury practice court. They also enjoyed a little time at the pool in low 80-degree weather and explored in the mountains in Yuma after a practice session on Friday. They also observed many fields full of thriving vegetables (broccoli, lettuce, etc) and had an authentic Mexican meal at Duron’s. The time in Phoenix ended where else but at the Premium Outlet Stores before coming back to the lovely Illinois weather. The ladies would like to thank families, friends, and fans who donated to our trip and also to Coach Prosser and Coach Dennie for putting up with all of us. We hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and we are certainly thankful for the many blessings we have.

It is the policy of this college that no person, on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran's status, shall be discriminated against in employment, in educational programs and activities, or in admission. Inquiries and complaints may be addressed to the Vice President of Diversity, International, & Adult Education (Revised: February 2008).